Emperor's Reckoning

The wooden door was closed shut with Nit staying inside and leaning on it to prevent any intervention from outsiders. His brows furrowed as he looked at Lyon's party carefully. After finding out that Lyon was responsible for the destruction of the First Hall, he should be wary— though there was little to nothing that he could actually do.

"What can I help you with?" Anna asked the leader of this unique group.

"We are here to address the floating words," said Cecile with a smile on her end. "About the flower that you seek."

Anna was slightly surprised as she heard their words but nodded. "I see, I do want to see you later in the day or tomorrow, but it seems like the words traveled faster than my intention."

"We are going to the cave right?" asked Lyon as he pulled up his legs and crossed them on top of the little chair. Hanging in the balance that seemed like a little push would make him fall, he continued, "What is the cave called?"

Anna was minded by his impolite manner but spout no comment. The young man was already famous for his nonchalant attitude and most of the time such attitude brought about haughtiness air in them. Impolite was hardly the issue that she could address, he might blow up the little hut that she called house right at this very second.

"The cave is unnamed, but due to no one ever reaching the end of the cave, it is famously mentioned as the Endless Cave."

"Wow, that's a really disappointing name," said Lyon. "Such anti-climatic."

"Then what would you call it young master?" asked Cherie with a smile on her end.

"Hmm? Hmm..." Lyon pondered before an idea sparked inside his head like a light bulb being turned on. "The Abyss Cave."

Kesya raised her brows, "That's actually quite a name."

"I know," Lyon nodded without a hint of shame for the praise of his vanity.

Elder Anna smiled wryly as she looked at him. "Let's return to the main topic, shall we?"

"Yes, let's return to that," said Lumina at Lyon's side.

Anna smiled, "I take it that you want to help me get the Hundred Petals Flower?"

Cecile nodded.

"That's delightful, but is it okay if Nit joined us?" asked Anna.

"Who is Nit?" asked Lyon as he raised his brow.

Nit at the sight was tensed but he could only make a light fake cough to gain their attention. "I'm Nit."

"I know, I just messing with you haha!" Lyon laughed as Nit's face boiled.

Anna chuckled. "Then when should we depart? If I recall correctly, you have five more days left in Alchemy Union."

"Then, let's go on the last day," said Lyon as he nodded.

"The last day?" Anna smiled with a furrowed brows, "May I know why?"

"No reason at all," said Lyon as he shook his head. "Except for the fact that I'm lazy! We can just part ways when you get your flower."

"I-I see," Anna looked down as she meekly agreed.

"What's wrong?" Lyon asked as he crossed his arms, "Should we change the date and time? You seem like you have something planned"

"N-No, no it's alright," said Anna as she smiled. "I don't have plans for that day."

"Good," Lyon nodded. "Oh right, there is someone that will join us in our hunt."

"Someone?"Anna raised her brows as she smiled wryly.

"The cave is dangerous, are you sure that he or she is adequate enough to join the hunt?" asked Nit with a blatant concern on his face. "If they are going to hold us down, we would be buried inside the cave alive."

"I don't know if he would drag us down, though," said Lyon as he shrugged.

Anna smiled weakly, "I'm sorry Lyon, but Nit is right, if he is going to drag us down, we would be in deep trouble. The cost and the reward might not be worth it."

Lyon frowned, "Is it really that dangerous, this Never-ending Cave?"

"It's the Endless Cave and yes, it is that dangerous," said Anna before she sighed. "I've hired many cultivators previously, but they are either too busy or too weak."

"Hmm? It seems like not everyone fancies this ingredient of yours," said Lyon before he chuckled, "What are you going to make anyway?"

"Lyon, don't you think that kind of rude?" asked Lumina. "Sorry about that."

"No, it's fine," said Anna as she smiled. "I need that ingredient to make one of the pills that I've been dying to try."

"What is the name?" asked Lyon seemingly not caring about being rude or not.

"The name is Bibi Pill," answered Anna before continuing, "Its main use is for strengthening the skin of the body to become more resilient toward lethal poison."

Lyon frowned, "The pill is only effective against a poison that you made contact with, externally? What about the poison that you can get via ingestion? A venom?"

Anna nodded her head, "The Bibi Pill also has the property to strengthen the inner layer of one's muscles and slightly as well for the meridians. If you get the poison by ingestion, the pill can only help to some short extent."

"So it's not that effective when you got the venom inside your body huh?" asked Lyon as his eyes turned disinterested.

"However, it is highly effective against the poison that can corrode you from outside," said Anna firmly.

"It would be great if it can works both ways though," said Lyon as he stated the obvious. "Wait a minute, let me guess one thing."

Lyon's brows furrowed as he squinted his eyes at Anna, "This cave, is not poisonous, is it?"

"It is," said Nit as he nodded.

Lyon immediately let out a sigh before he muttered, "Sometimes I hate it when I'm right."

"But you don't have to worry," said Cecile as Lyon immediately grinned.

"You have a thicker skin than a turtle shell, Bibi Pill will do nothing to your body," said Lumina as she nodded.

The party laughed, except for the two gentlemen that merely smiled.

Lyon twitched his lips as he heard what the ladies were saying.

*Knock! *Knock!

A double knock was heard against the wooden door from outside before a voice followed, "Excuse me."

Nit furrowed his brows (I sense no one approaching!). He slowly turned around before he carefully placed his hand on the handle. He looked over to Anna one last time before the latter nodded.

The door opened with a creak before Nit's eyes opened wide the moment he saw the figure in full view.

"I heard that Lyon is here, and this is the house where Elder Anna resides?" asked Mavis with his eyes hidden due to his big smile.

"Y-Young master Mavis!" said Nit before he opened the door fully. He immediately bowed, "I'm sorry for the harsh gesture!"

"Harsh?" Mavis was confused as he scratched his scalps. However, with Nit bowing his head, he managed to see Lyon's party was sitting opposite Anna. His lips immediately twitched (This seems really familiar). "Hey! Brother Lyon!"

"Young master Mavis!" Anna stood up from her seat and she immediately greeted him. "What honor, what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Hahaha you don't need to say that," said Mavis as he laughed.

"Oh, I insist," Anna nodded with a smile. "What can I help you with?"

"Oh, I'm just looking for my friend over there," said Mavis as he pointed at Lyon.

"Ah, certainly," Anna smiled before she averted her glance to Lyon.

"What do you want, Mavis," asked Lyon as he sighed.

Anna and Nit almost had their eyes jumped out of their sockets. They couldn't believe that Lyon would act so rudely against Mavis of the Sky Clan from Sixth Heaven. They were already lucky enough to have his presence in this humble excuse called abode, yet Lyon didn't even turn as he was called by Mavis. Such impudence was unprecedented, given how powerful Mavis was.

"Hahaha, I'm looking for you of course!" said Mavis before he asked Anna, "May I join him?"

"A-Absolutely, young master Mavis," said Anna before she wryly added, "Though, if you are listening to our topic, I'm afraid it would bore you."

"Oh?" Mavis raised one of his brows, "What are you guys talking about?"

Anna waved her hand with a smile, "It's nothing special, I asked for their help to hunt for the Hundred Petals Flower with me."

Mavis blinked three times before he grinned, "Then I would need to listen even more! Hahaha!"

"Eh?" Anna was slightly confused.

"After all, I'm joining him to that Endless Cave to gather the said flower! Hahaha!" Mavis put his hands on his waist as he laughed against the roof.

Nit and Anna immediately had cold shivers as they heard those words coming out of Mavis's mouth. (The one he mentioned... is actually young master Mavis of the Sky Clan?!).